Gynecologic instrument



May 10, 1932. F. o. E. EGGERT GYNECOLOGIC INSTRUMENT Filed Nov. 6, 1950 111mm Faden'ck O I. Fggerli 84 6f 6on1 7 [JD Patented May 10, 1932 i UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE FREDERICK o. E. sooner, or cnrcaeo, ILLINOIS eYNEcoLoeIc INSTRUMENT Application filed November 6, 1930. Serial 110,493,835.

This invention relates to an improved in- B being atone point thereof hooked over stument designed to facilitate the vaginal inthe cervix and the remaining portion thereof sertion and correct intra-vaginal placement lying against the wall of the vagina.

of vaginal pessaries. The instrument forming the subject mat- Among the objects of the invention are, to tor of the present invention is a one-piece I provide a simple instrument that will eii'ect device consisting essentially of a bar, prefervaginal. insertion and correct infra-vaginal ably of a light metal such as aluminum or an application of a pessary without requiring alunlin'um-chromium alloy, specially shaped, vaginal insertion, or contact with the exteras hereinafter described, to serve as-a carl nal genitalia, of the physicians or patients rying and stretching tool for the pessary 6O finger or fingers, and without the need for when applying the latter, and having a any secondary devices or manipulations, to smooth and highly polished surface to' preprovide an instrument that may be readily vent injury to the tissues with which it comes manipulated by the patient for self-appliin contact. This bar comprises what I term 1 cation, to provide an instrument requiring the a body portion 10 and a handle portion 11 use of but one hand, to provide an instrument continuous with the body portion and preferthat will minimize irritation and the danger ably extending downwardly at alow angle to of bacterial contamination, and lessen the the latter in the horizontal position of the discomfort attending the operation, to probody portion 10, as shown in Fig. 2. The I vide an instrument through which, the efiibody portion 10 is preferably tapered widthciency of the use of a pessary for intrawise, as shownin Fig. 1, being gradually vaginal medication may be increased, to pronarrowed from its junction with the handle vide an instrument that cannot cause injury portion to its forward end; and, as shown in to the delicate tissues with which itcomes into Fig. 2, it is also preferably of gradually contact, and generally, to provide an imincreased thickness from its junction with proved and highly sanitary one-piece gynethe handle portion to its forward end. In cologic instrument of the character specified. the forward end of the bar is a. transverse An approved mechanical embodiment of notch 12 suitably shaped to engagewith the the invention is illustrated in the accompanyrim or head B of the pessary, as shown in ing drawings, in which- Fig. 5. The rear end of the handle portion Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the instrument. 11 is also preferably,formed with a notch 13 Fig.2isaside elevation. that, in manipulating the device, forms a Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3 3 of seat or rest for the little finger of the hand, Fig. 1. as shown.

35 Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a pessary. In the upper surface of the bar there is Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the also preferably formed a shallow longitudimanner in which the pessary is mounted and nal groove or channell4 lying partlyin the stretched on the instrument preliminary to its body portion 10 and partly in the handle application. I portion 11, which groove serves as a thumb Referringto the drawings,Fig.4illustrates guide when stretching and elongating the a common form of pessary designed to be pessary,preventingthe tip of the thumb from serviced by the present instrument, the same slipping off the bar sidcwise during the consisting of a substantially hemispherical stretching or depositing operations, as clearshell A of thin rubber, the edge portion of ly shown in Fig. 5. I 45 which is wrapped and sealed around a ring In the use of the instrument, the body porof fine spiral wire to form a flexible rim or tion 10 is laid diametrically-across the conbead B. In the smaller sizes o'fpessary, this vex side of the pessary with its upper or x bead B encircles the cervix uteri, while in grooved side in contact with and depressing the larger sizes, such as that illustrated the the hemispherical body A of the pessary, and application is somewhat different, the head the notch 12 is engaged with the rim or bead B. The thumb then engages with the rim or bead at a diametrically opposite oint over the channel 14, the tip of the thum entering and being guided by the channel. The little finger is also engaged with the notch 13 atthe rear end of the handle, and the thumb is then moved downwardly along the chan- A nel 14, stretching and narrowing the pessary,

as shown in Fig. 5. The little finger anchorage afiorded by the notch or seat 13 greatly ..facilitates the stretching operation by preupper end of the stretched rim or bead B gers with internal at that point, and the instrument is then withdrawn, whereupon the deposited pessary resumes its original round form, with the remaining portion of the rim or bead lying against the wall of the vagina and thus closing the mouth of the uterus, so that a vaginal or uterine medicament previously deposited in the pessary is not wasted and readily finds its Way ,to its designed point of application.

From the foregoing it' will be apparent how the described instrument effects the stated purposes and objects thereof; itsprincipal advantages being that it can be'manipulated by the patient in privacy without re quiring the services of a physician or surgeon; that it eliminates all contact of the finparts and organs, thus conducing to cleanliness and lessening the liability to infection; and that it saves the time and patience usually required of the physician in instructing the patient. And

while I have shown and described one usefuland ractical form or embodiment of the invention, it is manifest that the detail features thereof may .be variously modified without involving any departure from the principle, "or sacrificing any of the advantages, thereof. Hence I do not limit the invention to the specific form shown and described, but reserve all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit and purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A one-piece gynecologic instrument of the character described, consisting of a bar comprising a body portion adapted to underlie and supporta pessary and formed with the character described, consisting of a bar comprisin a body portion adapted to underlie an support a pessary and formed with a notched forward end to engage with the rim of the pessary, and a handle portion continuous endwise with, and inclined downwardly at a low angle from, said body portion, said bar formed in its upper surface with a shallow thumb guiding groove formed partly in said body portion and partly in said handle portion constituting a thumb guide, and at the rear end of its handle portion with a transverse notch constituting a rest for the little finger of the hand to facilitate the stretching of the pessary by the thumb.

3. A one-piece gynecologic instrument of the character described, consisting ofv a bar comprising a body portion of gradually decreased width and increased thickness from its rear end to its forward end adapted to underlie and support a pessary and-formed with a notch in its forward end to enga e with the rim of the pessary, and a han le portion continuous endwise with, and inclined downwardly at a low angle from, said body portion, said bar formedin its upper surface with a shallow thumb guiding groove formed partly in said body portion and partly in .said handle portion constituting a thumb guide, and" acrossthe rear end of its handle portion with a transverse notch constituting a. rest for the little finger of the hand to facilitate the stretching of the pessary b the thumb.

FREDERICK O. E. EGGERT, M. D.

a notched forward end to'engage'with the rim of the pessary, and a handle portion continuous endwise with said body portion, said bar formed in its upper surface with a shal low longitudinal groove constituting athuinb guide, and at the rear end of its handle portion with a transverse notch constituting a finger rest to facilitate the stretching of the pessary by the thumb.

2. A one-piece gynecologic instrument of 

